Sheet-winding mechanism for piano-players.



No. 840,024. PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907. F. P. SMITH.

SHEET WINDING MECHANISM FOR PIANO PLAYERS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 28, 1905.

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THE NORRIS PETERS co, WASHINGTON, a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK P. SMITH, OF HANOVER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SMITHLYRAPHON E COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

Application filed August 28, 1905- Serial No, 276,124.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residingi-at I-Ianover, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sheet-Winding Mechanismfor Piano-Players, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sheet-winding mechanism forpiano-players.

The object of the invention is to provide a brake which is automaticallyoperated against the music-sheet to hold the sheet taut as it is beingwound from the music-roll onto the take-up roller, and especially in theearly part of the winding process; also, to provide means operatedautomatically and simultaneously with the said brake for connecting thetake-up roller with its source of propulsion.

Other features of my invention will be fully set forth in the followingspecification and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of myinvention, showing the parts in the position they occupy when inoperation. Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1 looking from the left. Fig. 3is also an end view looking from the right.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, and in which like reference-numerals designate likeparts, 1 designates the frame, secured to the supportingbar 2. In thesides of the frame 1 are the bearings 3 and 4 for the musicroll 5. Thebearing 3 has a pulley 6 on the outside of the frame for a belt (notshown) to rewind the music from the take-up roller after being played.The take-up roller 7 has a shaft at each end projecting through. thesides of the frame 1 and is provided on one end with a gear-wheel S, towhich power is transmitted to drive the take-up roller.

The tracker 9 is secured to the supportingbar 2 between the music-rolland the take-up roller and is provided with the usual air-aperturesand'air-ducts leading to the pneumatic-board.

Secured to the under surface of the supporting-b ar 2, just outside theframe 1, are the pneumatics 10 and 11, having air-ducts 12 and 13,respectively, leading therefrom to the pneumatic-board, and both of saidpneumatics are operative simultaneously. The pneumatic 10 is providedwith rods 14 14, lung from the bottom thereof and having bearings 15 15on their lower ends. Mounted in the bearings 15 15 is a shaft 16, havinga small gear-wheel 17 on one end, which is adapted to mesh with thegear-wheel 8 on the take-up roller. This shaft 16 is driven from asuitable source of power, and when the air is exhausted from thepneumatic 10 the bottom of the latter will move up, carrying with it therods 14 14 and shaft 16, and throw the gear-wheel 17 into mesh with thegear-wheel 8 and start the take-up roller. (See Figs. 1 and 3.

Within the frame 1, just below the musicroll, is a brake 18, constructedof a flat piece of wood or other suitable material, having its endsjournaled in opposite sides of the frame and provided with a strip offelt 19 on its upper surface where it contacts with the music-roll.

Secured to the outer end of the brake 18 is a lever 20, having anaperture in one end through which the post 21 projects, the said postbeing surrounded by a coiled spring 22, upon the upper end of which thefree end of the lever rests. This spring 22 governs the pressure of thebrake against the music roll. The post 21 is secured at its lower end toa stud 23, which latter is in turn secured to the lower surface of thepneumatic 11. As the air is exhausted from the pneumatic 11 through theair-duct 13 the bottom of the said pneumatic will move up, carrying withit the post 21, which latter lifts the end of the lever 20, causing thebrake 18 to revolve sufficiently to throw-the felt-covered surface intocontact with the music-roll and hold the sheet taut as it is being woundfrom the music-roll onto the take-up roller, especially in the earlypart of the winding process.

The pneumatics 10 and 11 being operated simultaneously, the brake willbe operated against the n1usic-roll at the same time the take-up rolleris connected to its source of propulsion.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is- 1. The combinationof the frame, the music-roll journaled in the frame, the take-up roller,and a brake arranged parallel with the music-roll and having its endsjournaled in the opposite sides of the said frame and adapted to bethrown in and out of contact with the music-sheet on the music-roll.

2. The combination of the frame, the music-roll journaled in the frame,the take-up roller, means for automatically connecting the take-uproller with its source of propulsion, a brake arranged parallel with themusic-roll and having its ends journaled in the opposite sides of thesaid frame, and means to throw the said brake into contact with themusic-roll at the same time the take-up roller is connected with itssource of propulsion.

3. The combination with the frame, the music-roll journaled in theframe, a brake arranged parallel with the music-roll and hav ing itsends journaled in the opposite sides of the said frame, a pneumatichaving connection with a suitable source of air-exhaust and adapted tooperate the said brake to throw it into contact with the music-sheet onthe music-roll.

4. The combination of the frame, a musicroll journaled in the frame, abrake arranged parallel with the music-roll and having its endsjournaled in the opposite sides of the said frame, a pneumatic connectedwith a suitable source of air-exhaust, a post connected to the saidpneumatic, and a lever connecting the said post and brake, whereby whenthe air is exhausted from the pneumatic the brake will be thrown intocontact with the music-sheet on the music-roll.

5. The combination of the frame, the music-roll journaled in the frame,and a brake arranged parallel with the music-roll and having its endsjournaled in the opposite sides of said frame and adapted to be thrownin and out of contact with the music-sheet on the music-roll.

6. The combination of the music-roll, the take-up roller having agear-wheel on one end, a pneumatic having connection with a suitablesource of air-exhaust, and a shaft suspended from said pneumatic andhaving a gear-wheel on one end whereby when the air in the pneumatic isexhausted the gear wheel on said shaft will be thrown into mesh with thegear-wheel on the take-up roller to drive the latter.

7. The combination of the music-roll, the take-up roller having agear-wheel on one end, a pneumatic, a shaft suspended from saidpneumatic and having a gear-wheel on one end, a brake adapted to bethrown into contact with the music-roll, and a pneumatic havingmeansconnected therewith to automatically operate the brake and throwthe latter into contact with the music-roll at the same time the take-uproller is connected to its source of propulsion.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK P. SMITH.

l/Vitnesses 2 CHAPIN A. FERGUSON, WM. R. LLEWELLYN.

